Vehicle-top.



0. N. ROBARDS. VEHICLE Tor.

MYPLICATION FILED 'MAY 14, |915. Patented Oct 2`SHEETS-SHEET I.

sus co., ruomumo.. wnsumc nm. n. c,

0. N. ROBARDS.

`VEHICLE TOP.

- v APPLICATION FILED MAY |41' I95- 1,203,410. Patented Oct. 31,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Armen/frs UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

oTHo NROEARDs, or HENDERSON, KENTUCKY, nssrGNoR oE ONE-HALE To RUDY M.

' NUNN, 0E HENDERSON, KENTUcKY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteaoet. 31,1916'.

Application filed May 14, 1915.` Serial No. 28,045.

To allwwm it may concern Be it known'that I, OTHo N. RoBARDs, a citizen Vof the United States, and a resident of Henderson, in the county of Henderson and State of Kentucky, have invented an Improvement in Vehicle-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to vehicles, and more particularly to folding or collapsible tops therefor.

TheV primary obj ect of the invention is the production of a collapsible top for vehicles upheld by a folding frame consisting of cooperating vparts of particular arrangement 1 andconstruction whereby said frame may be readily folded and unfolded with mum amount of labor.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a folding vehicle top of comparatively simple constructon, light, dura ble and one which may be manufactured and applied to vehicles at a minimum cost.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, some of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, are shown in the accompanying drawings,4 in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention showing the same applied to a double seated touring car. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of the means for folding and unfolding the vehicle top shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention adapted to be applied to a small vehicle. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the horizontal braces used in the construction shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the means for retaining the vehicle top in folded and unfolded positions.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the numeral 10 indicates a vehicle of ordinary construction.

The foldable vehicle top which constitutes -the essential feature of this invention coma minif prises a plurality of vertical bows 11 and 12 pivoted on each side of the vehicle adjacent the rear thereof and in parallel relation to eachother. It is to be understood that the foldable frame is identical in construction y on each side of the vehicle, so that a description of one side of the frame will suffice for both. The forward bow 11 has pivoted thereto intermediate its ends one end of a forwardly `extending diagonal brace 13. kA second rearwardly extending diagonal brace 14 is connected at one end to the vertical bow 11 intermediate the point of connection of said bow with said vehicle and brace 13. The other end of the bow brace 14 has pivoted thereto one end of a horizontalV brace 15 which is pivoted adjacentits other .end to the vertical bow 12 as Yindicated at'16.

The horizontal brace 15 is provided with a laterally extending pin or lug 17 adjacent the pivotV point 16, said lug being adaptedV to fit in a vnotch formed in theupper edge of the adj acentV end .of another longitudinal brace 18. This second brace 18is pivoted intermediate its vends' to the upper end of the vertical. bow 11 and adjacent the end oppo site the one pivoted to thebow 12 the same is provided with a notch upon its lower edge and adapted to engage a pin or lug 19 carried by another horizontal brace 20, the latter being pivoted to the brace 18 at 21. This brace 2O is also pivoted intermediate its ends to the upper end of the forwardly extending bow brace 13 as shown at 22. The forward end of the brace 2O has pivotally connected thereto at 23 a similar brace 24 pivoted intermediate its ends to the forward vertical bow 25 at 26. The otherv end of the member'24 has pivoted thereto one end of a further brace 27 the forward end of which is pivoted at y28 to the upper end of the diagonal bow brace 29, the lower end ofl end of the forwardly extending brace13 adjacent the pivot point 22.

A shaft 34 is mounted'transversely of the vehicle 10, preferably in the lower ortion thereof, and has connected thereto adjacent each end thereof one end of a curved operating arm 35 the other end of which is pivoted to the lower end of 'the forward bow 25. The shaft 24 also has secured thereto an operating lever 36 which is held in a substantially. horizontal position, when the top `is unfolded, as shown in Fig. 1,/by

means of a catch or clip 37 preferably carried by the running board of the vehicle. Adjacent Vthe end of the lever 36 connected to the shaft 34 said lever is provided with a laterally extending arm 38 the other end ofvwhich is connected to the arm 35.

In practice, should it be desired to fold the frame of the top, the operating lever 36 is pulled upwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. Movement of the lever 36 toward the dotted line position will first cause a rearward pressure upon the diagonal brace 13 through the medium of the arm 35, bow 25 and diagonal brace 32. This pressure will move the brace 13 toward a vertical position and will cause the horizontal brace 2O to oscillate about the pivot 22, the rear endof said brace 20 moving downward and the pin or lug 19 will disengage from the corresponding notch in the brace 18 and likewise the pin or lug 17 will disengage from its notch. rlhe rear end of the lever 18 and the forward end of the lever 15 will both be thrown upwardly by reason of the rearward movement of the bows 11 and 12 and all of said parts will gradually fold until lthe arm 35'engages the vehicle ata point slightly to the rear of the door thereof.

Before the frame has reached its folded position the brace 32 will break at the point 33 in order t0 permit the forward parts of the frame to be folded down upon the rear parts thereof- The forward portion of said frame is folded by the brace 24 swinging about its pivot 2G, the forward end of said brace moving downwardly while the rear end thereof at pivot 23 moves in an upward direction. It will thus be seen that when all the parts are in folded position the same will be located at the rear of the machine as partially indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, and will permit of an unobstructed access to the interior of the car.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3, l and 5 the parts of the frame are identical in construction and arrangement to the corresponding parts of the frame in Fig. l as far forward as the pivot point 22 of the brace 20 and said parts will move to their folded position in the same manner as previously described and shown in dotted lines in Fig. Slightly modified means are shown, however, for retaining the frame in Vits folded and unfolded positions, said means comprising an arcuate member 11 secured to the side of the vehicle 10 and having' notches 42 therein for the reception of a spring pressed locking dog 43 carried by the forward bow 11, as clearly illustrated in F ig. 5 of the drawing. It will be apparent from this construction that when the frame is in its unfolded position, the dog 43 will engage one of the notches 42 and prevent any accidental movement of the frame and likewise when the latter is in its folded position the dog 43 will engage the other notch a2 and prevent movement of said frame.

1. In a collapsible vehicle top, the combination with a vehicle, of a transverse shaft carried thereby, arms each having one end connected to said shaft, vertical bows pivoted to the rear portion of said vehicle,

other vertical bows connected to the otherV said vehicle and arranged in parallel relaforwardly and rearwardly extendingVV tion` diagonal braces pivoted to said forward bow, an intermediate horizontal brace pivoted medial its ends to the last-named bow, end horizontal braces pivoted to said diagonal braces and to said intermediate horizontal brace, one of said end braces being also connected to the rear vertical bow, Yand means for adjusting' said bows and braces to folded and unfolded positions.

3. Ina collapsible vehicle top, the combination with a vehicle, of forward and rear vertical bows pivoted adjacent the rear of said vehicle and arranged in parallel relation, forwardly and rearwardly extending diagonal braces pivoted to said forward bow, an intermediate horizontal brace pivoted medial its ends to the last-named bow, end horizontal braces pivoted to said diagonal braces and to said intermediate horizontal brace, one of said end braces being also connected to the rear vertical bow, a further vertical bow pivoted to the front portion ofthe vehicle, a brace extending from the last-named vertical bow to said forwardly extending diagonal brace, and means connected to the last-named vertical bow for moving the different bows and braces to folded and unfolded positions.

OTHO N. ROBARDS. lVitnesses SILAs GRIFFIN, R. C. PRINGLETON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

